Want to make evenly sliced sandwiches or toasted sandwiches for two in a hurry? Choose a wholemeal loaf whose packaging confirms that it’s pre-sliced. If you’re serving bread alongside a dish, a rustic loaf may work better for the presentation you have in mind; just check whether you’ll need to slice it yourself. The word ‘wholemeal’ alone tells you nothing about slice thickness or allergens.
If you want to make two evenly filled portions without having to slice the bread yourself, start with a pre-sliced loaf. ALDI describes its Fijn Volkoren as sliced; check the slice thickness of the version you’re buying too.
With soup, salad or a cheeseboard, presentation may matter more than having slices ready to fill. Lidl, for example, lists a rustic wholemeal sourdough loaf as a separate option.
If fibre, salt or allergens will influence your choice, compare the information on the loaf you’re actually buying. Jumbo lists nutritional values per 100 g for Fijn Volkoren, while the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on the label.
First decide whether you’re making compact sandwiches or serving bread alongside dinner. Then check how the loaf is sliced and, if it matters to you or your guests, look at the nutritional and allergen information on the current packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Evenly sliced bread | Check whether the packaging says ‘sliced’ and whether the slice thickness suits your dish. | For toasties or closed sandwiches, I want slices I can fill straight away, without having to cut them myself. Around 40% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Presentation at dinner | Consider whether you want to serve individual slices and whether the loaf you’ve chosen is whole or pre-sliced. | When serving bread with soup or a cheeseboard, I want it to suit the way I set the table, even if I have to slice it myself. Around 40% of consumers put presentation first. |
| Nutritional and allergen information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g; read the ingredients and allergen information for the version you’ve chosen. | If I’m buying bread for a guest, I want to know in advance which ingredients and allergens it contains. Checking the label is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Wholemeal bread is also sold as a whole loaf. If you want sandwiches or toasties, you’ll need to slice it yourself.
Check the packaging to see whether the loaf is sliced, and look at the slice thickness rather than relying on the type of bread alone.
A nutritional value or claim won’t tell you on its own how the bread is sliced or which allergens it contains. Compare product values on the same basis, and check the stated reference when a claim compares products.
Then check whether the shape of the loaf and the way it’s sliced suit what you want to serve.
If a guest has a relevant allergy, a loaf that otherwise suits your meal may still be unsuitable for them.
Ask your guests about allergies in advance, and check the ingredients and allergen information before buying. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for this information before you take it home.
Albert Heijn has a range of wholemeal bread available online.
Jumbo offers Fijn Volkoren, among other options.
Lidl lists both Fijn Volkoren and a rustic wholemeal sourdough loaf.
ALDI lists Fijn Volkoren and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal option.
PLUS offers Boeren volkoren heel, among other options.
Dirk lists Boeren volkoren heel and Vloerbrood volkoren heel, among other options.
Don’t assume it is: wholemeal wheat bread contains wheat, and regular wheat bread isn’t gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label and read the allergen information; if you have a wheat allergy, make sure you check specifically for wheat too.
If you need the information for a guest, ask for it before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged foods must be made available in a way other than on packaging.
No, you can’t tell from the name alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bread because baker’s salt has been added; check the ingredients for the loaf you’ve chosen.
